Coupling



' axial,

J. C. WELLS, SR.

I COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1920.

1,391 ,597. PatentedSept. 20, 192-1.

// INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSE$ UNITED STATES JOSEPH C. WELLS, SR., OFESSERVILLE, VIRGINIA, .ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W.

PATENT OFFICE.

HATFIELD, 0F ESSERVILLE, VIRGINIA.

coornnve.

Application filed. .Tune 4,

for its object the provision of an automatic coupling device soconstructed that when .two cars are brought together the couplingmemberscarried by each will be automatically interengaged without the necessityto] 7 any manual operation whatever. Y

An important-ob ect is the provision of a device of this character inwhichthe con pling members are provided with manually operable meanswhereby they may be quickly and easily disengaged to effect uncouplingof the cars.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this characterwhich will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture and installation,easy to operate, efficient in use,

durable in service, and a general IIIIPIOVG".

ment in the art. 7

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illus-.

' shown.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sec-' tional view showing themengaged.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A .designatesthe end portions of cars arranged in end to end relation. In carryingout my invention I provide a draw bar 10 pivotally connected or mountedupon each car in the ordinary manner or by any desired special means.Each draw bar 10 is formed with a head having a longitudinally extendingrecess 11 having a flaring entrance opening to define an inclinedshoulder 12, and is furthermore formed in its bottom, with an elongatedslot 13 leading into the recess 11.

Extending longitudinally of and project- Specification of LettersPatent. Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

1920. Serial N6. 386,421.

ing beyond the free end of each draw-bar head 10 is a coupling bar 14formed, in the present instance, as a loop-shaped bar or a bar having alongitudinal slot 15. 7 This bar is located within a groove 16 formed inthe bottom of the draw-bar. At a point spaced considerably from the endof the draw-bar the bar 14 is pivoted upon a transverse pin 17 and theextremity of the bar engages against one end of a coil spring 18extending within a vertical socket 19 in' the draw-bar. By thisconstruction the spring 18 will. operate to hold the coupling bar inposition ready to engage a mating member.

Between the pin 17 and the free end of the draw-bar is disposed asubstantially vertical arm 20 which is pivoted upon a trans-' verse pin21 and this arm extends across the recess 11 and has its free endoperable through the slot 13, the end of the arm beingengageable withthe end of the slot toward the free endof the head. The arm 20 is rightangular in shape so as to provide a substantially horizontal portion 22disposed in spaced parallel relation to the top of the head andconnected with the free end .of this arm portion 22 is a tension spring23 which is connected with the top of the head by any desired means andwhich operates to hold the arm 20 in engagement with the forward end ofthe slot 13.

In order that the arm 20 may be moved out of engagement with the end ofthe slot 13, I provide an angular lever 24 which is pivoted upon the pin21 and which includes a hand engaging portion 25 which normally extendssubstantially vertically above and at one side of the head and whichfurther includes a substantially horizontal portion 26 disposed adjacentthe head and engageable with the arm 20. I

In the carrying out of the invention the draw-bars on adjacent cars arearranged in the same relation, as clearly shown, the coupling bars 14both being at the bottom of the heads. With the heads arranged in thismanner, it will be seen that when two cars are brought together and theheads arranged in alinement, the projecting end of one coupling bar 14will enter the flaring end of the recess 11 in the other head engagingagainst the inclined shoulder 12. As the cars are then moved togetherthe coupling bar 14 will ride upon the shoulder 12 until it engages thearm 20,. Continued movement pling bar enters the opposite head, theother coupling bar being inoperative and being in reserve ready for usein case-one coupling bar is broken.

' When it is desired to uncouple the cars it is first necessary that thecars be moved to bring the coupler heads close together, after which itis merely necessary that the operator grasp the hand portion 250i thelever 24 engaging the arm 20 in use and swing it toward the meetingpoint of the heads, whereupon the horizontal portion 26 of the leverengaging the projecting end of the arm 20 will swing the arm so that itwill be withdrawn from the slot 13 whereupon there will be nothingengaging the coupling bar and the cars may be separated.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will beapparent that I have thus provided a comparatively simple andinexpensive coupling device for railway cars or in fact any otherwheeled vehicle, the coupling action of which will be entirely automaticand. accomplished merely by bringing the cars together.

VVhile I have shown and described the.

preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understoodthat'I reserve the right to make such changes in theform, construction,andv arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of theinven tion or the scope of, the subjoined. claim.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

ter the recess of theother head, the head being formed in its, undersidewith a recess spaced from the first named recess, and aspring within thesecond named recess engaging the. coupling link whereby to hold thelatter normally against the underside of the head.

In testimony whereof I affix my si nature.

JOSEPH 0. WELL ,.S.R.

